Umbrella



W. S. TIMBLIN April 1, 1930.

UMBRELLA Filed Jan. 26,v 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l .izda/725071' f5/glow??w' s' TIMBLIN April 1, 1930.

UMBRELLA v Filed Jan. 26, 1927 :s sheets-sheet 5 Y Patented Apr. 1, 1930WrLLIAM s. TIMBLIN, or erven' Fonas'r, ILLINOIS UMisRnLLA Applicationfiled Januaryr26, 1927.

This invention relates to new.and useful improvements in umbrellas, moreparticularly to that type suitable for manufacture and-sale at a loWprice for emergency pur- 5 posesrllhis yinvention has for one off itsobjects ythe provision of an improved emergency-urnbrella `which may bemanufactured at a low cost, compact when folded, and takes a preferablyrectangular' form when folded, so

that itmaybe readily placed in a coin-operated dispensing machine `anddelivered from such a machine, as required, in aform whichreadily-permits of the opening andextending 1510i. the umbrella vforitempQrary use.V

@ther objects and advantages'of ,this iuvention reside in the provisionof an improved method oflmaking an umbrella Whereby the body lof thearticle may be formed so from a single sheet `,off material cut andscoredand suitably providedwith connected `portions whereby a.substantially circular Ytop which, ,when extendedincluding integralribs, can beformed from a single rectangular shcetcfmateralyOther'objects p f this invention reside in the prevision @of anlumbrella. formed of a single sheet uof (material having integralreinforcing portionsforming ribs; the pro- So vision ofan Aimproyedumbrella including a top, `portion 4and integral reinforcing ribs,.which ribs are so formed asto facilitate folding of the umbrella into asubstantially rectangular form; and the pro-vision of an improvedumbrellal of the character referred to, having improved felini of handleCOH- strnctien for. maintaining the umbrella eX- tended'in use Theforegoing and such 'other objects Vand advantage may appear or be,painted :out scannen Proceeds .are 'attained fm are share 11,11 .the@remesa .1.11

(lire l .is a (betteln .Plan View 1.9i the .11m-

' 45 biella "in @extended pestiem Figure 2 is .a

ansyerse :sectionalfvieyv takenon the line f Figur kes' in the' dreetoli11,1- 'by the arrows;y Figure B is an enaif'g transverse sectional vievvtaken .on the P0 `1i 3 .'bFisareilleekiegie.theereeten Serial N'o.163,667.

ing the manner in Which the umbrella is,

folded and Figure'lO is a Iperspective View showing the umbrella in iitsform folded.

Referring more particularly to the `drawings, and as to Figures 1 and 2,the general form of the umbrella, When opened for use,

`,is shown, the umbrella including the top portionv 5 `formed With aplurality e`ofradial gen erally outwardly tapering ribs 6. The `unibrella is supported by the handles ,7 and 8 which are pivotallyconnectedat 9 and 10 .to .the top by virtue of transverse pivots 11 and 12passing through adjacent, inner portions -of the ribs l6.

The umbrella of this invention is preferably formed of a single sheet 13offlex- Vible material ,(see Fig. 4) such as heavy Waterproofed paper orothersuitable fabric, said .sheet being substantially rectangular 11nform and cut away at its-endportions, as indicated at 14 and '15, toformY projecting end 4flaps 16 and 17, one flap being adjacent ene long`edge 19 of the sheet and Vthe other flap being adjacent tothe edge 19a,for a purpose which Willpresently appear.

The sheet thus formed i'sprovided with `a plurality of transverse scores1 8 which latter are substantially perpendicular to lthe op-V positeedges 19 and 191`of the sheet. The sheet is also provided with twoseries of diagonal scores'Q() and 21 the individual scores in each beingparallel to each otherand crossing along the central longitudinalaxis),.the sheet also being scored ylongi'tudinally along said axis asindicated 'at-,22;

The 50019920 and 2.1 provide a plurality of diamond shaped areas 23, 23and each nf Said areas is provided with a central transverse score 24.

' The 'diamond shaped areas 23, shaded as shown in Figure 4, are coatedWith a suitable adhesive compositiompreferably waterproof, and'thescores 24 are provided in such a It will be understood that theadhesiveY coating is applied to but one side of the sheet so that theother side is plain except for the scoring.

The scores 24 are provided, to permit bending of the sheet, oppositelyto the scores 17 so that, referring to Figure 6, the upper edges 24; ofthe pleats correspond to the scoring 24 and the lower edges 18L inFigure 6 correspond to the scoring 18. The structure shown in Figure 6`is then flattened into the form shown in Figure 7, by dividing thesaine at 25 into two groups 31 and 32 of pleats, and theflap 16 `is thenattached in its entirety by suitable adhesive to the endmost pleat 26,that is, the opposite plain surface of the flap 16 from that shown inFigures 4: and 6 is connected to the exposed surface 26 shown in Figure6, and similarly the flap 17 is fixed, in its entirety, to the surface27 of the endmost pleat 28. s

This attachment of the flaps is accomplished by dividing the pleats atthe point 25,

f as shown in Figure 6, equally and spreading the saineto theflatformation as shown in Figure 7, whereupon the exposed surface of tbeflap 16 is coated and issecured to the sur face 26, and theflap 17 issimilarly secured to the surface 27 by bending the structure on line 30,Figure 7. This structure,if slightly distended,will then appear as shownin Figures 8 and 9. i f

Thelatter'structure thus formed, after being bentv upon itself at 30 sothat the flaps 16 and 17 are connected to their respective pleats, willappear. as shown in Figure 10. This structure, such as that shown inFigures 8 and 9, slightly distended, includes the two groups 31 and 32of pleats, connected by the intermediate portion 33 capable of beingfolded, as at 30. The connections between the iaps 16 and 17 and theadjacent pleats apnearsat the medial. portion of the folded umbrella, asAshown in Figures 8 and 10. T he handles 7 and 8 are then insertedbetween adjacent pleats,preferably at substantiallyopposits points inthetwo groups 31 and 32, at

j be dispensed in a desired quantity flat from a `suitable dispensing`coin-operated apparatus, if desired.

To open the article shown in Figure 10, the structure is held in avertical position, as in Figure 9, and a thumb or forelinger of eachhand is inserted, as indicated in Figure 9, at

the point 35 on each side of the group of pleats serve to hold thestructure extended. These g two handles, as shown in Figure 2, areprovided with recessed portions 39 and Ll0 which abut the adjacentport-ions l1 of the pleats where they are grouped and bent as shown inFigure 2, `and by grasping both handles,

the umbrella will be retained in the extended position.

By providing the diamond shaped portions, it will be seen that taperingribs are afforded consisting of double thicknesses of papel', as iindicated at 4:2 and d3, in Figure 3, the top 5 between adjacent ribs,owing to the scorings 18 being slightly raised so that when folding thepleats of the article nest properly. The

portions 18, when the umbrella is folded, are i' presented toward eachother, as indica-ted in Figure 10, and, as the umbrella is expanded inthe manner shown in Figure 9 these portions 18 are presented outwardlyor on the top side of the top of the umbrella.

Having thus described myinvention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A folding umbrella formed of a single blank of material including apluralityof pleats, saidpleats being adhesively connected to form radialreinforcing members angularly related tothe top when the uinbrellaisc1'- tended for use.

2. In a folding umbrella, a top portion formed of a single blank offlexible material, said blank being creased and folded to form aplurality of reinforcing portions', and a pair of cooperating handleshingedly connected to said reinforcing portions.

3. A folding umbrella including a top portion having reinforcingportions formed integrally therewith, andcooperating handles pivotallyconnected to said top and between said reinforcing portions and movableabout the pivots so as to act as levers on the adj acent reinforcingportions of the umbrella and to maintain the top in extended position.

4. A folding umbrella including a substantially circular top portionhaving creases therein so that it may be folded into substantiallyrectangular conguration, reinforcing and supporting portions for saidtop, and handles pivotally connected to said reinforcing portions andreceivable between and housed by'said portions when the umbrella isfolded. v

5. A foldingY umbrella. including a vtop formed with a. plurality ofradial integral ribs, and a pair ofv supporting handles at thecenter ofsaid topand hingedly connected thereto between adjacent ribs. l

Vo. An article of manufacture including a sheetof flexible materialcreased vto form a series ofrcontiguous'diamond shaped portionsv andalternate triangular shaped portions, said diamond shaped portions beingcoated with anadhesive.

7. An article of'manufacture including a sheet lof flexible materialcreased to forni a series ofcontiguous diamond shaped portions andalternate triangular shaped portions, said diamond shaped portions beingcoated with an adhesive, and a plurality of creases, one each extendingalong the longitudinal axis of each of said diamond shaped portionswhereby the adhesively coated portions therev offmay be connected.

8. The process of forming a substantially circular sheet from asubstantially rectangular sheet which includes the steps of formingsymmetrical transverse diagonal creases and f olds in said sheet, andconnecting portions of each of said folds.

9. The process of forming a substantially circular sheet from asubstantially rectangular sheet which includes the steps of formingsymmetrical transverse diagonal creases and folds in said sheet, andconnecting portions of each of said folds, and then expanding said foldsin opposite directions, and connecting the complemental end portions ofthe sheet` 10. The process of forming a substantially circular sheetfrom a substantially rectangular sheet of flexible material whichincludes the steps of transversely creasing said sheet along paralleland diagonally arranged lines and also along parallel lines normal tothe edges of the sheet, bending the sheet along said lines to formpleats, and connecting adjacent portions of the surfaces defined by saiddiagonal lines to afford tapering reinforcing portions.

ll. The process of forming a substantially circular sheet from asubstantially rectangular sheet of flexible material which includes thesteps of transversely creasing said sheet along parallel and diagonallyarranged lines andl also yalong parallel lines normal to the edges ofthe sheet, bending the sheet along said lines to form pleats, andadhesively connecting adjacent portions of the surfaces defined by saiddiagonal lines and forming said pleats to afford tapering reinforcingportions. Y

l2. A foldingV umbrella including a top foldable into two vhalves andadapted, when opened, to bring said halves into substantially the sameplane, and a pair of handles,

vone of which is supported by one of said halves and the vother of whichis supported by the othervof said halves and which handles may also bebrought into juxtaposition when said umbrella is opened, whereby ltheuml Vbrella may be held in open position,-saidtwo 13. An umbrellaincluding a top body .porn tion and radial reinforcing portionsconstructed of a substantially plane piece of material, said lmaterialhaving creases therein so as to double fold the same to forinmultipleplies in said v,reinforcing portions, and' said plies having theiradjacent surfaces connected for rigidifying lthe same.

14. A folding umbrella including a sub# stantially circular top portioncomprising a substantially plane and substantially rectangular sheet offlexible material provided with transverse and diagonal creases wherebyit may fold to bring ythe same to substantially circular form. i.

l5. A folding umbrella including a top? foldable into two halves andadapted, when opened, to bring said halves into substantially the sameplane, and a pair of handles, one of which is pivotally supported by oneof said halves and the other of which is pivotally supported by theother ofsaid halves and lwhich handles are angularly displaceable to bebrought into juxtaposition when said umbrella is opened, said handlesthereby engaging a portion of each half whereby the um-l brella may beheld in open position.

16. An umbrella comprising a flexiblev top having a circumferentiallycontinuous edge, a plurality of pleats in said top forming reinforcingrib members for supporting said' top formed integrally therewith, saidrib members being grouped to form angularly displaceable portions of thetop and said groups being disconnected from each other whereby the topand said ribs may be turnedl inside out and folded. Y

17. *An umbrella including atop body. portion formed of a plurality offlexible sections interconnected by contiguous integral flanges disposedat substantially right angles to the top when spread, said flangesforming radial multiple-ply reinforcing ribs for said top.

18,. An umbrella vinclr-.ding a top body portion formed of a pluralityof flexible sections interconnected by contiguous flanges disposed atsubstantially right angles tothe top whenspread, andmeans'sccuredbetween certain flanges for maintaining the top spread.

19. `An umbrella including a top body por- I .tion formedof a pluralityo f flexiblesections interconnected :contiguous flanges disposedatsubstantially right angles to ythetop whenspreailaand means Securedbetween 110ertiene spree-d4 nSO said means being received 'between[flanges when the un'ibrella is folded.

2O.` `An umbrella including a top body portion formcdof a plurality offlexible subformed with contiguous reinforcing portions lixedlyconnected together, said reinforcing portions beingadhesively connectedto form radial ribs lying at an angle to said top.

22. `An umbrella including a top body portion formed of a plurality offlexible sections formed with contiguous reinforcing portions fixedlyconnected together, said reinforcing portions lying at right angles tothe plane of the top and being tapered from the center of the top towardthe edge thereof.

23. `An umbrella including a top body portion formed of a plurality offlexible sections having` marginal contiguous Aflanges lixedly connectedto form multiple ply` reinforcing members lying at an angle to said top.

2l. A folding umbrella including a substantially circular top portionadapted to be folded into substantially rectangular configuration,including a plurality of substantially rectangular `flexible sectionshaving each `marginal flanges fixedly connected together to formreinforcing and supporting portions forse-id top, and handles pivotallyconnected to said reinforcing portions and rereivablebetween and housedby said por tions when the umbrella is folded.

25. A folding umbrella including a substantiallycircular top creased andfolded to provide angularly disposed ribs and connecting areastherebetween, a handle pivoted to and for supporting the umbrella inopen position, the creases in said top being so arranged that when thelatter is folded it takes a rectangular form with said ribs and handlewithin the `outline thereof.

2G. An umbrella including atop body portion formed of a plurality offlexiblesections interconnected by contiguous integral `flanges disposedat substantially right angles to the top when spread, said flangesforming radial multiple-ply reinforcing ribs for said top.

27. An umbrella including atop body portion formed of a plurality offlexible sections interconnected by contiguous flanges disposed atsubstantially right angles to the top when spread, and means securedbetween certain flanges for maintaining the top spread.

28. An umbrella including a top body portion formed of a plurality offlexible sections interconnected by contiguous flanges disposed atsubstantially right angles to the top when spread, and means securedbetween certain flanges for maintaining the top spread,

`said means being received between flanges when the umbrella is folded.

29. An umbrella including a top body portion formed of a plurality offlexible substantially rectangular sections interconnected by contiguousflanges disposed at substantially right angles to the top when spread.

30. An umbrella including a top body portion formed of a plurality offlexible sections formed with contiguous reinforcing portions fixedlyconnected together, said reinforcing portions being adhesively connectedto form radial ribs lying at an angle to said top.

3l. An umbrella including a top body portion formed of a plurality offlexible sections formed with contiguous reinforcing portions lixedlyconnected together, said reinforcing portions lying at right angles tothe plane of the top and` being tapered from the center ofthe top towardthe edge thereof.

32. An umbrella including a top body portion formed of a plurality offlexible sections having marginal contiguous flanges lixedly connectedto form multiple ply reinforcing members lying at an angle to said top.

33. A folding umbrella including a substantially7 circular top portionadapted to be folded into substantially rectangular configuration,including a plurality of substantially rectangular flexible sectionshaving each marginal flanges fixedly connected together -to formreinforcing and supporting portions for said top, and handles pivotallyconnected to said reinforcing portions and receivable between and housedby said portions when theumbrella is folded.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

WILLIAM S. TIMBLIN.

